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Chapters (68)
  1. Partner Pursuit
  2. Copyright
  3. Dedication
  4. Contents
  5. Chapter One
  6. Chapter Two
  7. Chapter Three
  8. Chapter Four
  9. Chapter Five
  10. Chapter Six
  11. Chapter Seven
  12. Re: Whitaker retirement party
  13. Chapter Nine
  14. Chapter Ten
  15. Chapter Eleven
  16. Chapter Twelve
  17. Chapter Thirteen
  18. Chapter Fourteen
  19. Chapter Fifteen
  20. Chapter Sixteen
  21. Chapter Seventeen
  22. Chapter Eighteen
  23. Chapter Nineteen
  24. Chapter Twenty
  25. Friday, New York City
  26. Chapter Twenty-Two
  27. Chapter Twenty-Three
  28. Chapter Twenty-Four
  29. Chapter Twenty-Five
  30. Chapter Twenty-Six
  31. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  32. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  33. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  34. Chapter Thirty
  35. Chapter Thirty-One
  36. Chapter Thirty-Two
  37. Chapter Thirty-Three
  38. Chapter Thirty-Four
  39. Chapter Thirty-Five
  40. Chapter Thirty-Six
  41. Subject: Deposition of Plaintiff in James case
  42. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  43. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  44. Subject: Mentors Found
  45. Chapter Forty-One
  46. Chapter Forty-Two
  47. Chapter Forty-Three
  48. Chapter Forty-Four
  49. Jake: While you’re stuck at work, think about this: I thought you might want to do a yoga session while I’m surfing in Santa Teresa. Should I book?
  50. Chapter Forty-Six
  51. Chapter Forty-Seven
  52. Chapter Forty-Eight
  53. Chapter Forty-Nine
  54. Chapter Fifty
  55. Chapter Fifty-One
  56. Chapter Fifty-Two
  57. Chapter Fifty-Three
  58. Chapter Fifty-Four
  59. Chapter Fifty-Five
  60. Chapter Fifty-Six
  61. Chapter Fifty-Seven
  62. Chapter Fifty-Eight
  63. Chapter Fifty-Nine
  64. Chapter Sixty
  65. Chapter Sixty-One
  66. About the Author
  67. Acknowledgements
  68. On any top-ten list of best Sunday plans, today’s brunch with my former crush and his new girlfriend would rank number eleven … hundred. Times five. But I couldn’t say no. We’re still friends.

“No distractions. I want to see you hit that hard. But watch out for it swinging back.”

“Sounds like working with Colette.” She took a punch. The bag swung back. She ducked just in time. She paused in her punching. “I shouldn’t have taken my frustration out on you. I’m sorry. I want to come, and I’m frustrated that I can’t.”

“We’ll play in the snow another time,” he promised.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Chapter Forty-Nine

Audrey pulled up her scarf against the biting air as she left the black sedan that had brought her home from work, waving at the driver as she pushed open Jake’s building door. She couldn’t wait to relax with Jake.

“I’m home,” she said, entering Jake’s apartment. Biscuit barked. Warm and cozy, the apartment smelled like chocolate.

“About time too,” Jake said, appearing in the hallway. He was dressed in flannel pajama bottoms and a gray fitted long underwear shirt. My favorite shirt on a man. He kissed her firmly on the lips.

“Just two more weeks and then vacation.” She nuzzled into him. “You’re so deliciously warm.”

“You need some heating up. Can I help you with unwrapping?” He smiled crookedly, his dimple appearing.

“Yes, please.”

His hands slid up from her waist to her coat’s big pink button, just above her chest. He was taking his time unbuttoning her. She caught her breath, leaning against the wall for support. He held her gaze, his hands slowly working his way down the front of her coat, leaving heat in their wake. He smelled of chocolate. His hands moved to her waist to pull her towards him and they kissed again. She ran her hand through his wavy brown hair and melted into his embrace, letting the feelings take over and silence her thinking. He unbuttoned her last button, and she slid out of her coat.

“Mmm, you taste like chocolate,” she said.

“It’s a hot chocolate night. Actually, I was in the middle of making some more. I’ll put the milk back on. Do you want marshmallows in yours?”

“Yum.”

“Coming up.” He disappeared into the kitchen, and she followed.

“How was the skiing?”

“Great. Fresh powder this morning, so we got in some amazing runs.” He poured two cups of hot chocolate.

“What’s your style of skiing—is it a few runs, full ski lodge lunch and then ski some more in the afternoon with a hot chocolate break, hot tub with drinks at 4 p.m.? Or is it wake up at dawn, be on the slopes when the lift opens, and here’s your soup canteen, you can eat lunch in the lift?”

He laughed. “Can it be in-between? What’s yours?”

“Oh, I’m definitely trending more towards the former than the latter.”